Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
OFFICES:
Undergraduate Affairs, Room 2705
Graduate Affairs, Room 2718
Engineering Building Unit 1, Warren College
http://www.ece.ucsd.edu/
Professors
Courses
Program Mission Statement
To educate tomorrows technology leaders.
Program Educational Objectives
- To provide our students with training in the fundamental science
and mathematics that underlie engineering, and with a general breadth
and depth in engineering and in engineering design so that they are
prepared for graduate school and for engineering careers. Students
should have both proficiency in a specific technical area, and the
flexibility and broad knowledge base needed for life-long engineering
careers in a changing technical environment.
- To ensure that our students are educated in the classical sense.
In particular, that they are broadly aware of social and environmental
issues and of the impact of their profession on these issues.
- To assist our students in preparing themselves to work effectively
in their profession. Specifically, to develop communications, teamwork,
and leadership skills.
Program Outcomes and Assessment
Program outcomes have been established based on the Program Educational
Objectives. Graduates of the ECE Program in Electrical Engineering are
expected to have:
- An understanding of the underlying principles of, and an ability
to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to electrical
engineering problems
- An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze
and interpret data
- A knowledge of electrical engineering safety issues
- An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired
needs
- a. An ability to collaborate effectively with others
b. An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
- An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering
tools necessary for engineering practice, including familiarity with
computer programming and information technology
- An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
- a. An ability to communicate effectively in writing
b. An ability to communicate effectively in speech
c. An ability to communicate effectively with visual means
- The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering
solutions in a global and societal context
- A recognition of the need for, and the ability to engage in, lifelong
learning
- A knowledge of contemporary issues
The Undergraduate Programs
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers undergraduate
programs leading to the B.S. degree in electrical engineering, engineering
physics, and computer engineering. Each of these programs can be
tailored to provide preparation for graduate study or employment in
a wide range of fields. The Electrical Engineering Program is accredited
by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
The Electrical Engineering Program has a common lower-division and
a very flexible structure in the upper-division. After the lower-division
core, all students take six breadth courses during the junior year.
They must then satisfy a depth requirement which can be met with five
courses focused on some speciality, and a design requirement of at least
one project course. The remainder of the program consists of six electives
which may range as widely or as narrowly as needed.
The Engineering Physics Program is conducted in cooperation with the
Department of Physics. Its structure is very similar to that of electrical
engineering except the depth requirement includes seven courses and
there are only four electives.
The Computer Engineering Program is conducted jointly with the Department
of Computer Science and Engineering. It has a more prescribed structure.
The program encompasses the study of hardware design, data storage,
computer architecture, assembly languages, and the design of computers
for engineering, information retrieval, and scientific research.
For information about admission to the program and about academic advising,
students are referred to the section on ECE departmental regulations.
In order to complete the programs in a timely fashion, students must
plan their courses carefully, starting in their freshman year. Students
should have sufficient background in high school mathematics so that
they can take freshman calculus in the first quarter.
For graduation, each student must also satisfy general-education requirements
determined by the students college. The six colleges at UCSD require
widely different numbers of general-education courses. Students should
choose their college carefully, considering the special nature of the
college and the breadth of education required. They should realize that
some colleges require considerably more courses than others. Students
wishing to transfer to another college should see their college adviser.
Graduates of community colleges may enter ECE programs in the junior
year. However, transfer students should be particularly mindful of the
freshman and sophomore course requirements when planning their programs.
These programs have strong components in laboratory experiments and
in the use of computers throughout the curricula. In addition, the department
is committed to exposing students to the nature of engineering design.
This is accomplished throughout the curricula by use of open-ended homework
problems, by exposure to engineering problems in lectures, by courses
which emphasize student-initiated projects in both laboratory and computer
courses, and finally by senior design-project courses in which teams
of students work to solve an engineering design problem, often brought
in from industry.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT STUDENTS DISCUSS THEIR CURRICULUM WITH THE
APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTAL ADVISER IMMEDIATELY UPON ENTRANCE TO UCSD,
AND THEN AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR UNTIL GRADUATION.
B.S. Electrical Engineering Program
Students must complete 180 units for graduation, including the general-education
requirements (GER). Note that 144 units (excluding GER) are required.
Lower-Division Requirements (total of 72 units)
Mathematics (24 units): Math. 20A-B-C-D-E-F.
Physics (16 units): Phys. 2A-B-C-D or Phys. 4A-B-C-D-E. Math.
20A is a prerequisite for Phys. 2A. Students whose performance on the
mathematics placement test permits them to start with Math. 20B or higher
may take Phys. 2A in the fall quarter of the freshman year.
Chemistry (4 units): Chem. 6A.
Programming Course (4 units): MAE 9 or (CSE 11 or 8A-B)
Electrical engineering (24 units): ECE 20A-B, ECE 30, ECE 60A-B,
and ECE 60L.
Additional Notes:
- Students can take either MAE 9 or (CSE 11 or 8A-B) Students interested
in the computer design or software systems depths should enroll in
CSE 11 or 8A-B.
- Please note that electrical engineering students cannot take CSE
11 or 8A in the fall quarter of the freshman year. The fall quarter
enrollment in CSE courses is reserved for computer science and computer
engineering majors. CSE 8A and CSE 8B are not required if a student
completes CSE 11. CSE 11 is a faster paced version of CSE 8A and CSE
8B. Students will self-select which course they wish to take. Students
without programming experience in a compiled language are advised
to take CSE 8A and then CSE 8B instead of CSE 11.
- ECE 20A and 20B are offered every quarter; therefore, some students
will be able to take ECE 20A in the fall quarter (enrollment limited
and priority for transfer students). Other students will postpone
taking ECE 20A until the winter or spring quarter of their freshman
year.
- Students taking CSE 8A-B may take ECE 20A in the spring quarter
and ECE 20B in the fall quarter of their sophmore year. ECE 30 will
be postponed to the spring quarter of the sophmore year.
- Students with AP math credit are strongly advised to take Math.
20B in the fall quarter, leaving room for a GER in the winter quarter.
- The ECE undergraduate Web site shows several scheduling options.
Please refer to the Web site and consult with the staff advisers in
the undergraduate offices, rooms 2705 and 2706 in EBU1.
Upper-Division Requirements (total of 72 units)
a. Electrical Engineering BREADTH Courses (24 units)
Courses required of all electrical engineering majors:
The six courses, ECE 101, 102, 103, 107, 108, and 109 are required
of all electrical engineering majors and they are an assumed prerequisite
for senior-level courses, even if they are not explicitly required.
Although the courses are largely independent, there are some prerequisites.
ECE 102 is a prerequisite for ECE 108. Students who delay some of the
breadth courses into the spring should be careful that it does not delay
their depth sequence.
b. Electrical Engineering DESIGN Course (4 units)
Note: In order to fulfill the design requirement,
students must complete one of the following courses with a grade C
or better. Graduation will not be approved until a written copy of the
design project is submitted to the ECE undergraduate office.
The electrical engineering design requirement can be fulfilled in any
of the following three ways:
- Take ECE 191: Engineering Group Design Project
- Take ECE 192: Engineering Design This course requires the department
stamp. Specifications and enrollment forms are available in the undergraduate
office.
- Take one of the following courses:
- ECE 111: Advanced Digital Design Project
- ECE 118: Computer Interfacing
- ECE 155B or 155C: Digital Recording Projects
- Phys. 121: Experimental Techniques
Students who wish to take one of these courses to satisfy the design
requirement must fill out an enrollment form and have departmental approval
for the design credit prior to taking the course. The project must meet
the same specifications as ECE 192.
c. Eletrical Engineering ELECTIVES (24 units)
- Three upper-division engineering, mathematics, or physics courses.
- Three additional electives which students may use to broaden their
professional goals.
(For additional information, please refer to the section on Elective
Policy for Electrical Engineering and Engineering Physics Majors.)
d. Electrical Engineering Depth Requirement (20 units)
Students must complete a depth requirement of at least
five quarter courses to provide a focus for their studies. This set
must include a clear chain of study of at least three courses which
depend on the breadth courses. Students may choose one of
the approved depth sequences listed below, or propose another with the
approval of their faculty adviser. Some of the approved sequences have
lower-division prerequisites and thus list six courses. Students choosing
one of these sequences will have to complete only two professional
electives. Guidelines for meeting the depth requirement can be obtained
from the undergraduate office.
Electronics Circuits and Systems: ECE 163, 164, 165, and any two of
ECE 111, 118, 161A, 161B, 161C, and 166.
Electronic Devices and Materials: ECE 135A, ECE 135B, 136L, 139, and
183.
Controls and Systems Theory: ECE 171A, 171B, 174, 118, and 173.
Machine Intelligence: ECE 173, 174, 172A and any two of ECE 175, 161A,
187, 253A, 285, and COGS 108F.
Photonics: ECE 181, 182, 183, 184, and 185.
Communications Systems: ECE 161A, 153, 154A-B-C.
Networks: ECE 153, 159A, 159B, 158A-B.
Queuing Systems: ECE 171A, 174, 159A-B, and Math. 181A.
Computer Design: CSE 12, 21, and 141, ECE 158A, 111 or 118, and 165.
Software Systems: CSE 12, 21, 100, 101, 141, and 120.
B.S. Engineering Physics
Students must complete a total of 180 units for graduation, including
the general-education requirements. Note that 146 units (excluding GER)
are required.
Lower-Division Requirements (total of 74 units)
Mathematics (24 units): Math. 20A-B-C-D-E-F.
Physics (16 units): Phys. 2A-B-C-D or Phys. 4A-B-C-D-E. Math.
20A is a prerequisite for Phys. 2A. Students whose performance on the
mathematics placement test permits them to start with Math. 20B or higher
may take Phys. 2A in the fall quarter of the freshman year.
Physics Lab (2 units): Phys. 2DL is required.
Chemistry (4 units): Chem. 6A.
Programming Course (4 units): MAE 9 or (CSE 11 or 8A-B)
Electrical engineering (24 units): ECE 20A-B, ECE 30, ECE 60A-B,
and ECE 60L.
Additional Notes:
- Students can take either MAE 9 or (CSE 11 or 8A-B) Students interested
in the computer design or software systems depths should enroll in
CSE 11 or 8A-B.
- Please note that electrical engineering students cannot take CSE
11 or 8A in the fall quarter of the freshman year. The fall quarter
enrollment in CSE courses is reserved for computer science and computer
engineering majors. CSE 8A and CSE 8B are not required if a student
completes CSE 11. CSE 11 is a faster paced version of CSE 8A and CSE
8B. Students will self-select which course they wish to take. Students
without programming experience in a compiled language are advised
to take CSE 8A and then CSE 8B instead of CSE 11.
- ECE 20A and 20B are offered every quarter; therefore, some students
will be able to take ECE 20A in the fall quarter (enrollment limited
and priority for transfer students). Other students will postpone
taking ECE 20A until the winter or spring quarter of their freshman
year.
- Students taking CSE 8A-B may take ECE 20A in the spring quarter
and ECE 20B in the fall quarter of their sophmore year. ECE 30 will
be postponed to the spring quarter of the sophmore year.
- Students with AP math credit are strongly advised to take Math.
20B in the fall quarter, leaving room for a GER in the winter quarter.
- The ECE undergraduate Web site shows several scheduling options.
Please refer to the Web site and consult with the staff advisers in
the undergraduate offices, rooms 2705 and 2706 in EBU1.
Upper-Division Requirements (72 units)
a. Engineering Physics BREADTH Courses (24 units)
The electrical engineering breadth courses ECE 101, 102, 103, 107,
108, and 109, are also required of engineering physics majors. However,
because of the scheduling of Math. 110, Phys. 110A and 130A, they can
only be taken in a specific order (please consult the ECE Web site).
b. Engineering Physics DESIGN Course (4 units)
Note: In order to fulfill the design requirement,
students must complete one of the following courses with a grade C
or better. Graduation will not be approved until a written copy of the
design project is submitted to the ECE undergraduate office.
The engineering physics design requirement can be fulfilled in any
of the following three ways:
- Take ECE 191: Engineering Group Design Project
- Take ECE 192: Engineering Design This course requires the department
stamp. Specifications and enrollment forms are available in the undergraduate
office.
- Take one of the following courses:
- ECE 111: Advanced Digital Design Project
- ECE 118: Computer Interfacing
- ECE 155B or 155C: Digital Recording Projects
- Physics 121: Experimental Techniques
Students who wish to take one of these courses to satisfy the design
requirement must fill out an enrollment form and have departmental approval
for the design credit prior to taking the course. The project must meet
the same specifications as ECE 192.
c. Engineering Physics ELECTIVES (16 units)
- One upper-division engineering, mathematics, or physics course.
- Three additional electives which students may use to broaden their
professional goals.
(For additional information, please refer to the section on Elective
Policy for Electrical Engineering and Engineering Physics Majors.)
d. Engineering Physics DEPTH Courses (28 Units)
All B.S. engineering physics students are required to take Phys. 110A,
130A-B, 140A, Math. 110, ECE 123 and 166; or ECE 135A and 135B; or ECE
182 and (181 or 183).
Elective Policy for Electrical Engineering and Engineering Physics
Majors
1. Technical Electives:
Technical electives must be upper-division engineering, math or physics
courses (except for the bioengineering track). Certain courses listed
below are not allowed as electives because of overlap with ECE courses.
Physics: Students may not receive upper-division elective credit
for any lower-division physics courses. Students may not receive credit
for both Phys. 100A and ECE 107, Phys. 100B and ECE 107, Phys. 100C
and ECE 123.
Mathematics: Math. 180A-B overlap ECE 109 and 153, and therefore
will not qualify for elective credit of either type. Math. 183 will
not be allowed as an elective. Math. 163 will only be allowed as a professional
elective. All lower- division mathematics is excluded from elective
credit of either type.
Bioengineering: The following series of courses will provide
core preparation in bioengineering and will satisfy five
of the ECE technical elective requirements:
BILD 1, BILD 2, BE 100, BE 140A-B.
The bioengineering department will guarantee admission to these courses
for ECE students on a space available basis.
CSE: The following courses are excluded as electives: CSE 1,
2, 5A-B, 8A-B, 11, 140 (duplicates ECE 20B), 140L (duplicates ECE 20B
), 143 (duplicates ECE 165). CSE 12, 20, and 21 will count toward the
three professional electives ONLY.
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE): Credit will not
be allowed for MAE 105, 139, 140, 143B, or 170.
Special Studies Courses 195199: At most four units of 195199
may be used for elective credit.
2. Professional Electives:
Normally these will be upper-division courses in engineering, mathematics,
or physics. Students may also choose upper-division courses from other
departments provided that they fit into a coherent professional program.
In such cases, a lower-division prerequisite may be included in the
electives. Courses other than upper-division engineering, mathematics,
or physics must be justified in terms of such a program, and must be
approved by a faculty adviser.
Biology and Chemistry: Of the three electives intended to allow
for the professional diversity, one lower-division biology or chemistry
course from BILD 1, 2, Chem. 6B-C may be counted for credit. Furthermore,
this will count only if the student can demonstrate to a faculty adviser
that they constitute part of a coherent plan for professional/career
development.
Upper-division biology and chemistry courses will count toward the
three professional electives but not the three math/physics/engineering
electives.
Economics: Suitable electives would include:
Economics 1A followed by courses in one of the following tracks:
- Public and Environmental Economics: Select 2Economics 118A-B,
130, 131, 132, 137.
- Labor and Human Resources: Select 2Economics 136, 137, 138A-B,
139.
- Microeconomics: Economics 100A-B or 170A-B.
- Finance Track (MBA) I: Must complete all 3Economics 4, 173,
and another upper-division Economics elective.
- Finance Track (MBA) II: Economics 1A, 100A or 170A, and 175.
- Operations Research: Must complete 172 AEconomics 172A and
(172B or 172C).
Economics 1B followed by courses in one of the following tracks:
- Monetary Economics: Economics 111 and another upper-division Economics
Elective.
- Macroeconomics: Economics 110A-B.
Note: Economics 120A, and 158A-B will not be allowed
as professional electives.
B.S. Computer Engineering
Students wishing to pursue the computer engineering curriculum must
be admitted to either the ECE or CSE department. The set of required
courses and allowed electives is the same in both departments; please
note that the curriculum requires twenty upper-division courses. The
Computer Engineering Program requires a total of 146 units (not including
the general-education requirements).
The Computer Engineering Program offers a strong emphasis on engineering
mathematics and other basic engineering science as well as a firm grounding
in computer science. Students should have sufficient background in high
school mathematics so that they can take freshman calculus in their
first quarter. Courses in high school physics and computer programming,
although helpful, are not required for admission to the program.
Lower-Division Requirements (total of 70 units)
Mathematics (20 units): Math. 20A-B-C-D-F.
Physics (16 units): Phys. 2A-B-C-D, or Phys. 4A-B-C-D. Math.
20A is a prerequisite for Phys. 2A. Students whose performance on the
mathematics placement test permits them to start with Math. 20B or higher
may take Phys. 2A in the fall quarter of the freshman year.
Physics lab (2 units): Phys. 2BL or 2CL or 2DL. The lab course
should be taken concurrently with the Phys. 2 or Phys. 4 sequence.
Computer Science (20 units): CSE 11 or 8B*, 12, CSE 20 or Math.
15A, CSE 21 or Math. 15B, and CSE 30.
* CSE 8A and CSE 8B are not required if a student completes CSE 11.
CSE 11 is a faster paced version of CSE 8A and CSE 8B. Students will
self-select which course they wish to take. Students without programming
experience in a compiled language are advised to take CSE 8A and then
CSE 8B instead of CSE 11.
Electrical Engineering (12 units): ECE 53A-B, ECE 109.
Upper-Division Requirements (total of 76 units)
a. All B.S. computer engineering students are required to take CSE
100 or Math. 176, CSE 101 or Math. 188, CSE 105 or Math. 166, CSE 120,
131A-B, 140, 140L (CSE 140 and 140L must be taken concurrently), 141,
141L (CSE 141 and 141L must be taken concurrently).
b. In addition, all B.S. Computer engineering students must fulfill
the following upper-division ECE requirements:
- Engineering Probability and Statistics ECE 109. This course can
be taken in the sophomore year.
- Electronic Circuits and Systems ECE 102 and 108. The department
recommends that these courses be taken in the junior year.
- Linear systems ECE 101 and 171A or 161A.
c. Technical electives: All B.S. Computer engineering majors are required
to take six technical electives.
- One technical elective must be either ECE 111 or ECE 118.
- Of the remaining five technical electives, four must be ECE or
CSE upper-division or graduate courses.
- The remaining course can be any upper-division course listed under
the non-CSE/ECE electives. (See the section on electives below.)
Electives
The discipline of computer engineering interacts with a number of other
disciplines in a mutually beneficial way. These disciplines include
mathematics, computer science, and cognitive science. The following
is a list of upper-division courses from these and other disciplines
that can be counted as technical electives.
At most four units of 197, 198, or 199 may be used towards technical
elective requirements. ECE/CSE 195 cannot be used towards course requirements.
Undergraduate students must get instructors permission and departmental
stamp to enroll in a graduate course.
Students may not get duplicate credit for equivalent courses. The UCSD
General Catalog should be consulted for equivalency information
and any restrictions placed on the courses. Additional restrictions
are noted below. Any deviation from this list must be petitioned.
Mathematics: All upper-division courses except Math. 168A-B,
179A-B, 183, 184A-B, 189A-B, and 195199. If a student has completed
CSE 167, then he or she cannot get elective credit for Math. 155A. Students
may receive elective credit for only one of the following courses: CSE
164A, Math. 174, Math. 173, Phys. 105A-B, MAE 107, CENG 100. No credit
for any of these courses will be given if Math. 170A-B-C is taken. Students
will receive credit for either Math. 166 or CSE 105 (but not both),
either Math. 188 or CSE 101 (but not both), and either Math. 176 or
CSE 100 (but not both).
Computer Science and Engineering: All CSE upper-division courses
except CSE 195. Students will receive credit for either CSE 123A or ECE
158A (but not both) and CSE 143 or ECE 165 (but not both).
Cognitive Science: Sensation and Perception 101A, Learning, Memory,
and Attention 101B, Language 101C, Distributed Cognition 102A, Cognitive
Ethnography 102B, Cognitive Engineering 102C, Neuroanatomy and Physiology
107A, Systems Neuroscience 107B, Cognitive Neuroscience 107C, Programming
Methods for Cognitive Science 108D, Neural Networks Models of Cognitive
I 108E, Advanced Programming Methods for Cognitive Science 108F, Human
Computer Interaction 120, Human Computer Interaction Programming 121,
Semantics 150, Language Comprehension 153, Natural and Artificial Symbolic
Representational Systems 170, Neural Network Models of Cognition II 181,
Artificial Intelligence Modeling II 182.
Students may not get credit for both CSE 150 and Advanced Programming
Methods for Cognitive Science 108F or for both CSE 151 and Artificial
Intelligence Modeling II 182.
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE): All upper-division
MAE courses except MAE 140, and MAE 195-199.
Students may receive elective credit for only one of the following
courses: CSE 164A, Math. 174, Math. 173, Phys. 105A-B, CENG 100, MAE
107. Students may only get credit for one of the two courses, CSE 167
or MAE 152.
Economics: Microeconomics 100A-B, Game Theory 109, Macroeconomics
110A-B, Mathematical Economics 113, Econometrics 120B-C, Applied Econometrics
121, Management Science Microeconomics 170A-B, Decisions Under Uncertainty
171, Introduction to Operations Research 172A-B-C, Economic and Business
Forecasting 178.
Students cannot take Economics 120A since it duplicates ECE 109.
Linguistics: Phonetics 110, Phonology I 111, Phonology II 115,
Morphology 120, Syntax I 121, Syntax II 125, Semantics 130, Mathematical
Analysis of Languages 160, Computers and Language 163, Computational
Linguistics 165, Psycholinguistics 170, Language and the Brain 172,
and Sociolinguistics 175.
Engineering: Team Engineering 101
Music: Computer Music II 172, Audio Production: Mixing and Editing
173.
Psyschology: Engineering Psychology 161.
Minor Curricula
ECE offers three minors in accord with the general university policy
that a minor requires five upper-division courses. Students must
realize that these upper-division courses have extensive lower-division
prerequisites (please consult the ECE undergraduate office).
Students should also consult their college provosts office concerning
the rules governing minors and programs of concentration.
Electrical Engineering: 20 units chosen from the breadth courses
ECE 101, 102, 103, 107, 108, 109.
Engineering Physics: 20 units chosen from the junior year courses
Phys. 110A, 130A, Math. 110, ECE 101, 102, 103, 107, 108, 109.
Computer Engineering: 20 units chosen from the junior year courses
ECE 102, 108, CSE 100, 101, 105, 120, 140, 140L, 141, 141L.
The department will consider other mixtures of upper-division ECE,
CSE, physics, and mathematics courses by petition.
Undergraduate Regulations and Requirements
Admission to Majors:
- Computer Engineering majors:
Admission to the computer engineering major is currently restricted
as described in the section Admission to the School of Engineering.
The only way to become a computer engineering (CE) major is to be
directly admitted as an entering freshman or as an entering transfer
(Transfer students, see TRANSFER STUDENTS section below).
Space permitting and at its sole discretion, the electrical and computer
engineering department may periodically grant admission to the computer
engineering (CE) major to a small number of academically exceptional
UCSD undergraduate students who were not admitted to this major as
entering students. Exceptional admission will be considered for students
having an overall UCSD GPA of 3.5 or better who have taken at least
two CSE, math, or science courses demonstrating special aptitude for
the CE curriculum. Applications for exceptional admission must include
submission of a course plan demonstrating ability to satisfy graduation
requirements and a personal statement addressing the applicants
motivation to join the CE major, in addition to other criteria established
by the department.
- Electrical Engineering: (Effective fall 20022003)
Freshmen students who have excelled in high school and have declared
electrical engineering on their application will be directly admitted
by the dean of the School of Engineering into their major. The only
way to become an electrical engineering major is to be directly admitted
as an entering freshman (transfer students see Transfer Students section
below). These students will be notified directly of their status.
Because of heavy student interest in departmental programs and the
limited resources available to accommodate this demand, maintenance
of a high quality program makes it necessary to limit enrollment to
the most qualified students.
Admission to the department as a major, transfer, or minor is in accordance
with the general requirements established by the School of Engineering.
Space permitting and at its sole discretion, the electrical and computer
engineering department may periodically grant admission to the electrical
engineering (EE) major to a small number of academically exceptional
UCSD undergraduate students who were not admitted to this major as
entering students. Exceptional admission will be considered for students
having an overall UCSD GPA of 3.5 or better who have taken at least
two CSE, math, or science courses demonstrating special aptitude for
the EE curriculum. Applications for exceptional admission must include
submission of a course plan demonstrating ability to satisfy graduation
requirements and a personal statement addressing the applicants
motivation to join the EE major, in addition to other criteria established
by the department.
- Engineering Physics:
Students are accepted into the pre-major and must complete the
following courses in order to apply for admission to the engineering
physics major:
1. Math. 20A-B-C
2. Phys. 2A-B
3. ECE 20A-B
4. CSE 11 or 8B, or MAE 9
Transfer Students
- Computer Engineering:
The B.S. in Computer Engineering is a heavily impacted major and
admission is limited to applicants who have demonstrated a high level
of achievement commensurate with the prospect of success in this major.
Successful applicants must have completed substantial training at
the community college and must have achieved a high level of academic
performance there. For example, the required minimum of ninety quarter
transfer units must include eighteen quarter units of calculus, twelve
quarter units of calculus-based physics, and the highest level computer
science course offered at their community college. Although the actual
required GPA cutoff depends on the number of openings, at least a
3.2 GPA in the community college transfer courses, and a 3.4 GPA in
math, physics and computer science courses, are likely to be needed
to gain admission.
When planning their programs, students should be mindful of lower-division
prerequisites necessary for admission to upper-division courses.
Effective fall 2001 applicants seeking admission as transfer students
will be considered for direct admission into the Computer Engineering
(CE) major in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
(ECE). The only way to become a Computer Engineering (CE) major is
to be directly admitted as an entering transfer student.
- Electrical Engineering:
The B.S. In Electrical Engineering is heavily impacted and admission
is limited to applicants who have demonstrated a high level of achievement
commensurate with the prospect of success in these majors. Successful
applicants must have completed substantial training at the community
college and must have achieved a high level of academic performance
there. For example, the required minimum of 90 quarter transfer units
must include 18 quarter units of calculus, 12 quarter units of calculus-based
physics, and the highest level computer science course offered at
their community college.
Effective fall 2004, applicants seeking admission as transfer students
will be considered for direct admission into the electrical engineering
major in the Department of Electrical Engineering. The only way to
become an electrical engineering major is to be directly admitted
as an entering transfer student. Although the actual required GPA
cutoff depends on the number of openings, at least a 3.2 GPA in the
community college transfer courses, and a 3.4 GPA in math, physics,
and computer science courses, are likely to be needed to gain admission.
Transfer students who have declared pre-electrical engineering will
be considered for direct admission to the major.
There will be no pre-major admissions to Electrical Engineering.
Space permitting and in its sole discretion, the electrical engineering
department may periodically grant admission to the electrical engineering
major to a small number of academically exceptional UCSD undergraduate
students who were not admitted to these majors as entering students.
Exceptional admission will be considered for students having an overall
UCSD GPA of 3.5 or better who have taken at least two ECE, math, or
science courses demonstrating special aptitude for the EE curriculum.
Applications for exceptional admission must include submission of
a course plan demonstrating ability to satisfy graduation requirements
and a personal statement addressing the applicants motivation
to join the electrical engineering major, in addition to other criteria
established by the department.
- Engineering Physics:
Students are accepted into the pre-major and must complete the following
courses in order to be accepted into the engineering physics major:
Math. 20A-B-C, Phys. 2A-B, ECE 20A-B, CSE 11 or 8B or MAE 9. Students
who wish to enter in the engineering physics major must contact the
department before the beginning of the fall quarter, submitting course
descriptions and transcripts for courses used to satisfy their lower-division
requirements. Normally, admission will be for the fall quarter; students
entering in the winter or spring quarter should be aware that scheduling
difficulties may occur because upper-division sequences normally begin
in the fall quarter.
Grade Requirement in the Major
A GPA of 2.0 is required in all upper-division courses in the major,
including technical electives. The grade of D will not be considered
an adequate prerequisite for any ECE course. The engineering design
requirement must be completed with a grade of C or better.
Advising
Students are required to complete an academic planning form and
to discuss their curriculum with the appropriate departmental adviser
immediately upon entrance to UCSD, and then every year until graduation.
This is intended to help students in: a) their choice of depth sequence,
b) their choice of electives, c) keeping up with changes in departmental
requirements. A faculty adviser will be assigned by the ECE department
undergraduate office.
New Transfer Students in Electrical Engineering and Engineering Physics
The entire curriculum is predicated on the idea of actively involving
students in engineering from the time they enter as freshmen. The freshman
course Introduction to Engineering has been carefully crafted
to provide an overview of the engineering mindset with its interrelationships
among physics, mathematics, problem solving, and computation. All later
courses are specifically designed to build on this foundation. All transfer
students should understand that the lower-division curriculum is demanding.
Transfer students will be required to take all lower-division requirements
or their equivalent.
- Transfer students should start with ECE 20A in the fall quarter.
Transfer students will be allowed to take ECE 20B and 60A concurrently.
The recommended schedule for the lower-division ECE course is as follows:
Recommended Schedule
FALL
|
WINTER
|
SPRING
|
|
ECE 20A
|
ECE 20B
|
ECE 60B
|
MAE 9 or (CSE 11 or 8B)*
|
ECE 60A
|
ECE 60L
|
|
* Please note that engineering physics students cannot take CSE 11
or 8A in the fall quarter of the freshman year. (The fall quarter enrollment
in CSE courses is reserved for computer science and computer engineering
majors.) CSE 8A and CSE 8B are not required if a student completes CSE
11. CSE 11 is a faster paced version of CSE 8A and CSE 8B. Students
will self-select which course they wish to take. Students without programming
experience in a compiled language are advised to take CSE 8A and the
CSE 8B instead of CSE 11.
Note: ECE 30 requires MAE 9 or (CSE 11 or 8B) and ECE 20B as
a prerequisite and thus should be taken in the spring quarter of the
sophomore year, or in the fall quarter of the junior year, concurrently
with two upper-division breadth courses.
New Transfer Students in Computer Engineering
Recommended Schedules
FALL
|
WINTER
|
SPRING
|
|
First year*
|
|
|
CSE 11
|
CSE 12
|
CSE 30
|
CSE 20 (or Math. 15A)
|
CSE 21 (or Math. 15B)
|
ECE 109
|
|
ECE 53A
|
ECE 53B
|
|
First year**
|
|
|
CSE 8A
|
CSE 8B
|
CSE 20 (or Math. 15A)
|
ECE 53A
|
ECE 53B
|
CSE 30
|
|
CSE 12
|
ECE 109
|
|
* Recommended schedule for students with programming experience. This
schedule will require students to get clearance from the CSE department
to take CSE 8B and CSE 20 concurrently
** Recommended schedule for students with no programming experience.
This schedule will require students to get clearance from the CSE department
to take CSE 8B and CSE 12 in the winter quarter, and CSE 20 and CSE
30 concurrently in the spring quarter. CSE 21 should then be taken during
the summer sessions or the following fall quarter.
Students who do not have any programming experience are encouraged
to take the CSE 8A-B sequence instead of CSE 11. Experience has shown
that most students who are not familiar with programming and take CSE
11 have to retake the class because the accelerated pace makes it difficult
to learn the new material.
Note: Transfer students are encouraged to consult
with the ECE undergraduate office for academic planning upon entrance
to UCSD.
ECE Honors Program
The ECE Undergraduate Honors Program is intended to give eligible students
the opportunity to work closely with faculty in a project, and to honor
the top graduating undergraduate students.
Eligibility for Admission to the Honors Program:
- Students with a minimum GPA of 3.5 in the major and 3.25 overall
will be eligible to apply. Students may apply at the end of the winter
quarter of their junior year and no later than the end of the second
week of fall quarter of their senior year. No late applications will
be accepted.
- Students must submit a project proposal (sponsored by an ECE faculty
member) to the honors program committee at the time of application.
- The major GPA will include ALL lower-division required for the
major and all upper-division required for the major that are completed
at the time of application (a minimum of twenty-four units of upper-division
course work).
Requirements for Award of Honors:
- Completion of all ECE requirements with a minimum GPA of 3.5 in
the major based on grades through winter quarter of the senior year.
- Formal participation (i.e., registration and attendance) in the
ECE 290 graduate seminar program in the fall quarter of their senior
year.
- Completion of an eight-unit approved honors project (ECE 193H:
Honors Project) and submission of a written report by the first
day of spring quarter of the senior year. This project must contain
enough design to satisfy the ECE B.S.four-unit design requirement.
- The ECE honors committee will review each project final report
and certify the projects which have been successfully completed at
the honors level.
Procedure for Application to the Honors Program:
Between the end of the winter quarter of their junior year and the
second week of the fall quarter of their senior year, interested students
must advise the department of their intention to participate by submitting
a proposal for the honors project sponsored by an ECE faculty member.
Admission to the honors program will be formally approved by the ECE
honors committee based on GPA and the proposal.
Unit Considerations
Except for the two-unit graduate seminar, this honors program does
not increase a participants total unit requirements. The honors
project will satisfy the departmental design requirement and students
may use four units of their honors project course as a technical elective.
Five-Year B.S./M. Eng. Program
Undergraduates in the ECE department who have maintained a good academic
record in both departmental and overall course work are encouraged to
participate in the five-year B.S./M. Eng. program offered by the department.
Participation in the program will permit students to complete the requirements
for the M. Eng. degree within one year following receipt of the B.S.
Degree Complete details regarding admission to and participation in
the program are available from the ECE Undergraduate Affairs office.
Admission to the Program
Students should submit an application for the B.S./M. Eng. program,
including three letters of recommendation, by the program deadline during
the spring quarter of their junior year. Applications are available
from the ECE Undergraduate Affairs office. No GREs are required
for application to the B.S./M. Eng. program. A GPA of at least 3.0 both
overall and in the major and strong letters of recommendation are required
to be considered for program admission.
In the winter quarter of the senior year, applications of students
admitted to the program will be forwarded by the department to the UCSD
Office of Graduate Studies and Research. Each student must submit the
regular graduate application fee prior to the application deadline for
their application to be processed. Students who have been accepted into
the B.S./M. Eng. program will automatically be admitted for graduate
study beginning the following fall provided they maintain an overall
GPA through the winter quarter of the senior year of at least 3.0. Upper-division
(up to twelve units) or graduate courses taken during the senior year
that are not used to satisfy undergraduate course requirements may be
counted towards the forty-eight units required for the M. Eng. degree.
Continuation in the Program
Once admitted to the B.S./M. Eng. program, students must maintain a
3.0 cumulative GPA in all courses through the winter quarter of the
senior year and in addition must at all times maintain a 3.0 cumulative
GPA in their graduate course work. Students not satisfying these requirements
may be re-evaluated for continuation in the program.
Admission for graduate study through the B.S./M. Eng. program will
be for the M. Eng. degree only. Undergraduate students wishing to continue
towards the Ph.D. Degree must apply and be evaluated according to the
usual procedures and criteria for admission to the Ph.D. program.
Curriculum
Students in the five-year B.S./M. Eng. program must complete the same
requirements as those in the regular M. Eng. program. Completion of
the M. Eng. degree requirements within one year following receipt of
the B.S. Degree will generally require that students begin graduate
course work in their senior year. All requirements for the B.S. Degree
should be completed by the end of the senior (fourth) year, and the
B.S. Degree awarded prior to the start of the fifth year. Courses taken
in the senior year may be counted toward the B.S. requirements or the
M. Eng. degree requirements, but not both. Students must have received
their B.S. Degree before they will be eligible to enroll as graduate
students in the department.
The Graduate Programs
The department offers two distinct graduate programs, the Ph.D. and
the M. Eng. The Ph.D. Program is strongly research oriented and is for
students whose final degree objective is the Ph.D. If a student with
a B.S. is admitted to this program, he or she will be expected to complete
the requirements for the M.S. degree (outlined below) before beginning
doctoral research. By contrast, the M. Eng. is intended to be a terminal
professional degree, for those not planning to pursue the Ph.D. The
M. Eng. has only a coursework requirement. Graduate applicants are admitted
directly into the M. Eng. or the Ph.D. programs only.
In addition, the department offers M.S. and Ph.D. Programs in Computer
Engineering jointly with CSE, and a Ph.D. Program in Applied Ocean Science
jointly with MAE and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Admission to an ECE graduate program is in accordance with the
general requirements of the UCSD graduate division, and requires at
least a B.S. Degree in engineering, physical sciences, or mathematics
with a minimum upper division GPA of 3.0. Applicants must provide three
letters of recommendation and recent GRE General Test scores. TOEFL
scores are required from international applicants whose native language
is not English. Applicants should be aware that the University does
not permit duplication of degrees.
Support: The department makes every effort to provide financial
support for Ph.D. students who are making satisfactory progress. Support
may take the form of a fellowship, teaching assistantship, research
assistantship, or some combination thereof. International students will
not be admitted unless there is reasonable assurance that support can
be provided for the duration of their Ph.D. Program Students in the
M.Eng. Programs may also obtain support through teaching or research
assistantships, but this is less certain.
Advising: Students should seek advice on requirements and procedures
from the departmental graduate office and/or the departmental Web site
http://www.ece.ucsd.edu. All students
will be assigned a faculty academic adviser upon admission and are strongly
encouraged to discuss their academic program with their adviser immediately
upon arrival and subsequently at least once per academic year.
Master of Engineering
The Master of Engineering (M. Eng.) program is intended primarily for
engineers who desire Masters level work but do not intend to continue
with Ph.D. level research. Salient features of the M. Eng. program include
the following: It can be completed in four quarters at full-time or
eight quarters at half time; it does not require a thesis, a research
project, or a comprehensive exam; and it has an option of three courses
in business, management, and finance.
Course Requirements:
The total course requirements are forty-eight units (twelve quarter
courses). The choice of courses is subject to general focus and breadth
requirements. Students will be assigned a faculty adviser who will help
select courses.
- The Focus Requirement: (five courses) The M. Eng. Program
should reflect, among other things, a continuity and focus in one
subject area. The course selection must therefore include at least
twenty units (five quarter courses) in closely related courses leading
to the state of the art in that area. The requirement may be met by
selecting five courses from within one of the focus areas listed below.
In some cases it may be appropriate to select five closely related
courses from two of the areas listed below. Such cases must be approved
by a faculty adviser and the ECE Graduate Curriculum Committee.
- The Breadth Requirement: (two courses) A graduate student
often cannot be certain of his or her future professional career activities
and may benefit from exposure to interesting opportunities in other
subject areas. The breadth requirement is intended to provide protection
against technical obsolescence, open up new areas of interest, and
provide for future self-education. The minimum breadth requirement
is eight units (two quarter courses) of ECE/CSE graduate courses selected
from among the courses listed below, in an area distinctly different
from that of the focus requirement.
- Technical Electives: (two courses) Two technical electives
may be any graduate courses in ECE, CSE, Physics, or Mathematics.
Other technical courses may be selected with the approval of the faculty
adviser and the ECE Graduate Curriculum Committee. Technical electives
may include a maximum of four units of ECE 298 (Independent Study),
or ECE 299 (Research).
- Professional Electives: (three courses) The three professional
electives may be used in several ways: for the IP/Core 401, 420, 421
series in business, management, and finance; for upper-division undergraduate
technical courses specified as prerequisites for graduate-level focus,
breadth, or technical elective courses taken to satisfy the M.Eng.
Degree requirements; or for additional graduate technical electives.
Use of other courses to satisfy the Professional Elective requirement
must be approved by the faculty adviser.
Scholarship Requirement: The forty-eight units of required course
work must be taken for a letter grade (A-F), except for ECE 298 or 299,
for which only S/U grades are allowed. Courses for which a D or F is
received may not be counted. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 overall.
Master of Engineering Program Focus Courses
Please consult the ECE graduate office or the ECE Web site http://www.ece.ucsd.edu
for the current list of focus areas and courses.
- Applied Physics
Allied Ph.D. research areas: Applied PhysicsApplied Optics,
Applied PhysicsElectronic Devices and Materials, Photonics,
Radio Space Science, and Magnetic Recording.
ECE 222A-B-C. Electromagnetic Theory
ECE 230A-B-C. Solid State Electronics
ECE 236A-B-C-D. Semiconductors
ECE 238A-B. Materials Science
MS 201A-B-C. Materials Science
ECE 240A-B-C. Optics
ECE 241A-B-C. Optics
- Communications and Signal Analysis:
Allied Ph.D. Research areas: Communication Theory and Systems, Intelligent
Systems, Robotics, and Control, Magnetic Recording, Signal and Image
Processing.
ECE 153. Random Processes
ECE 250. Random Processes
ECE 251AN-BN-CN-DN. Digital Signal Processing
ECE 252A-B. Speech Compression and Recognition
ECE 253A-B. Digital Image Analysis
ECE 254. Detection Theory
ECE 255A. Information Theory
ECE 255B-C. Source Coding
ECE 256A-B. Time Series Analysis
ECE 257A-B. Wireless Communications
ECE 258A-B. Digital Communications
ECE 259AN-BN-CN. Channel Coding
ECE 273A-B-C. Optimization in Linear Vector Spaces
ECE 275A-B. Statistical Parameter Estimation
ECE 285. Special Topic: Computer Vision; Pattern Recognition (offerings
vary annually)
- Electronic Circuits and Systems
Allied Ph.D. Research areas: Computer Engineering, Electronic Circuits
and Systems.
ECE 222A-B-C. Applied Electromagnetic Theory
ECE 230A-B-C. Solid State Electronics
ECE 236A-B-C. Semiconductor Hetero-structure Materials
ECE 250. Random Processes
ECE 260A-B-C. VLSI Circuits
ECE 263A-B-C. Fault Tolerant Computing
ECE 264A-B-C. Analog IC Design
ECE 265A-B. Wireless Circuit Design CSE 240A, 240B. Computer Architecture
CSE 242A, 243A. Computer Aided Design
Transferring to the Ph.D. Program
Although the M. Eng. is intended as a terminal degree, the department
recognizes that degree goals can change, including the possibility that
a student admitted to the M. Eng. may wish to obtain a Ph.D. To this
end, we outline below the procedure that must be followed to effect
such a change. At the outset, however, we stress that this option should
not be used in an attempt to circumvent the normal Ph.D. admissions
process. Students who fail to meet the standards for the Ph.D. Program
at the time of admission have little chance of being allowed into the
Ph.D. Program at a later date.
Students in the M. Eng. program wishing to be considered for admission
to the Ph.D. Program should consult their academic adviser as soon as
possible. Transfer from M. Eng. to the Ph.D. Program is possible provided
that the student satisfies the following requirements:
- Satisfy all requirements for initial admission to the Ph.D program,
including submission of GRE General Test Scores, and be approved for
consideration for transfer to the Ph.D program by the ECE Graduate
Curriculum Committee.
- Identify a faculty member who agrees, in writing, to serve as that
students academic and Ph.D. Research adviser.
- In consultation with the academic adviser, design and complete
a program of coursework that satisfies all course requirements and
constraints for a Ph.D. discipline appropriate to their research.
All students in the Ph.D. Programs are required to satisfy all Ph.D.
Degree requirements as described below. Should the student not be
admitted to the Ph.D. Program, this program of coursework will serve,
with the approval of the academic adviser and the ECE Graduate Curriculum
Committee, to satisfy the coursework requirements for the M. Eng.
degree.
- Pass the comprehensive examination (Ph.D. Preliminary) at the level
required for continuation in the Ph.D. Program A student failing to
pass the comprehensive exam at this required level will not be admitted
to the Ph.D. Program, and will instead continue in the M. Eng. degree
program.
- Maintain a GPA of at least 3.4 in the appropriate core graduate
courses.
A student who has fulfilled all of the above requirements should, after
passing the departmental comprehensive exam, submit a petition to change
their degree objective from M. Eng. to Ph.D.
Master of Science
The ECE department offers an M.S. program in electrical engineering and
an M.S. program in computer engineering, the latter jointly with the Department
of Computer Science and Engineering. The MS programs are research oriented,
are intended to provide the intensive technical preparation necessary
for subsequent pursuit of a Ph.D. It is stressed that the M.S. degree
is offered only to students who have been admitted to the Ph.D. Program
The M.S. degree may be earned either with a thesis (Plan 1) or with a
research project followed by a comprehensive examination (Plan 2). However,
continuation in the Ph.D. Program requires a comprehensive examination
so most students opt for Plan 2.
Course Requirements:
The total course requirements for the master of science degrees in
electrical engineering and in computer engineering are forty-eight units
(twelve quarter courses) and forty-nine units, respectively, of which
at least thirty-six units must be in graduate courses. Note that this
is greater than the minimum requirements of the university. The department
maintains a list of core courses for each disciplinary area from which
the thirty-six graduate course units must be selected. The current list
may be obtained from the department graduate office or the official
Web site of the department. Students in interdisciplinary programs may
select other core courses with the approval of their academic adviser.
The course requirements must be completed within two years of full-time
study. Students will be assigned a faculty adviser who will help select
courses and approve their overall academic curriculum.
Scholarship Requirement: The forty-eight units of required course
work must be taken for a letter grade (AF), except for graduate research
(e.g. ECE 298, 299) for which only S/U grades are allowed. Courses for
which a D or F is received may not be counted. Students must maintain
a GPA of 3.0 overall.
Thesis and Comprehensive Requirements: The department offers
both M.S. Plan 1 (thesis) and M.S. Plan 2 (comprehensive exam). Students
in the M.S. program may elect either Plan 1 or Plan 2 any time. Students
in the M.S. Plan 1 (thesis) must take twelve units of ECE 299 (Research)
and must submit a thesis as described in the general requirements of
the university. Students in the M.S. Plan 2 (comprehensive exam) must
find a faculty member who will agree to supervise the student in a research
project. This should be done before the start of the second year of
study. They should complete at least four units of ECE 299 (Research)
and must pass the departmental comprehensive examination by the end
of their second year of study. This is an oral exam in which the student
presents his or her research to a committee of three ECE faculty members,
and is examined orally on a two-quarter core sequence in ECE. The outcome
of the exam is based on the students research presentation, proficiency
demonstrated in the students area of specialization, and overall
academic record and performance in the graduate program.
Students in the computer engineering discipline may elect to take two
written examinations in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering,
in accordance with the CSE guidelines, in place of the oral examination
on a two-quarter sequence in ECE. They are then required to give a thirty-
to forty-five minute research presentation in the ECE department.
The Doctoral Programs
The ECE department offers graduate programs leading to the Ph.D. Degree
in ten disciplines within electrical and computer engineering, as described
in detail below. The Ph.D. Is a research degree requiring completion
of the Ph.D. Program course requirements, satisfactory performance on
the comprehensive (Ph.D. Preliminary) examination and University Qualifying
Examination, and submission and defense of a doctoral thesis (as described
under the Graduate Studies section of this catalog). Students
in the Ph.D. Program must pass the comprehensive exam (Ph.D. Preliminary)
before the beginning of the third year of graduate study. To ensure
timely progress in their research, students are strongly encouraged
to identify a faculty member willing to supervise their doctoral research
by the end of their first year of study.
Students should begin defining and preparing for their thesis research
as soon as they have passed the comprehensive exam (Ph.D. Preliminary).
They should plan on taking the University Qualifying Examination about
one year later. The University does not permit students to continue
in graduate study for more than four years without passing this examination.
At the Qualifying Examination the student will give an oral presentation
of the thesis proposal to a campus-wide committee. The committee will
decide if the proposal has adequate content and reasonable chance for
success. They may require that the student modify the proposal and may
require a further review.
The final Ph.D. Requirements are the submission of a dissertation and
the dissertation defense (as described under the Graduate Studies
section of this catalog).
Course Requirements: The total course requirements for the Ph.D.
Degree in electrical engineering are forty-eight units (twelve quarter
courses), of which at least thirty-six units must be in graduate courses.
Note that this is greater than the minimum requirements of the university.
The department maintains a list of core courses for each disciplinary
area from which the thirty-six graduate course units must be selected.
The current list may be obtained from the ECE department graduate office
or the official Web site of the department. Students in the interdisciplinary
programs may select other core courses with the approval of their academic
adviser. The course requirements must be completed within two years
of full-time study.
Students in the Ph.D programs may count no more than eight units of
ECE 299 towards their course requirements.
Students who already hold an M.S. degree in electrical engineering must
nevertheless satisfy the requirements for the core courses. However,
graduate courses taken else where can be substituted for specific courses
with the approval of the academic adviser.
Scholarship Requirement: The forty-eight units of required courses
must be taken for a letter grade (AF), except for eight units of ECE
299 (Research) for which only S/U grades are allowed. Courses for which
a D or F is received may not be counted. Students must maintain a GPA
of 3.0 overall. In addition, a GPA of 3.4 in the core graduate courses
is generally expected.
Comprehensive Exam (Ph.D. Preliminary): Ph.D. Students must
find a faculty member who will agree to supervise their thesis research.
This should be done before the start of the second year of study. They
should then devote at least half their time to research and must pass
the comprehensive examination (Ph.D. Preliminary) by the end of their
second year of study.* This is an oral exam in which the student presents
his or her research to a committee of three ECE faculty members, and
is examined orally for proficiency in his or her area of specialization.
The outcome of the exam is based on the students research presentation,
proficiency demonstrated in the students area of specialization,
and overall academic record and performance in the graduate program.
Successful completion of the comprehensive examination (Ph.D. Preliminary)
will also satisfy the M.S. Plan 2 comprehensive exam requirement.
* Students in the computer engineering discipline may elect to take
two written examinations in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering,
in accordance with the CSE guidelines, in place of the oral examination
on a two-quarter sequence in ECE. They are then required to give a thirty
to forty-five minute research presentation in the ECE department.
University Qualifying Exam: Students who have passed the comprehensive
exam (Ph.D. Preliminary) should plan to take the University Qualifying
Examination approximately a year after passing the comprehensive exam
(Ph.D. Preliminary). The University does not permit students to continue
in graduate study for more than four years without passing this examination.
The University Qualifying Examination is an oral exam in which the student
presents his or her thesis proposal to a university-wide committee.
After passing this exam the student is advanced to candidacy.
Dissertation Defense: The final Ph.D. Requirements are the submission
of a dissertation, and the dissertation defense (as described under
the Graduate Studies section of this catalog). Students who are advanced
to candidacy may register for any ECE course on an S/U basis.
Departmental Time Limits: Students who enter the Ph.D. Program
with an M.S. degree from another institution are expected to complete
their Ph.D. Requirements a year earlier than B.S. entrants. They must
discuss their program with an academic adviser in their first quarter
of residence. If their Ph.D. Program overlaps significantly with their
earlier M.S. work, the time limits for the comprehensive and qualifying
exams will also be reduced by one year. Specific time limits for the
Ph.D. Program, assuming entry with a B.S. Degree, are as follows:
- The Comprehensive Exam (Ph.D. Preliminary) must be completed
before the start of the third year of full-time study.
- The University Qualifying Exam must be completed before the
start of the fifth year of full-time study.
- Support Limit: Students may not receive financial support
through the University for more than seven years of full-time study
(six years with an M.S. degree).
- Registered Time Limit: Students may not register as graduate
students for more than eight years of full-time study (seven years
with an M.S. degree).
Half-Time Study: Time limits are extended by one quarter for
every two quarters on approved half-time status. Students on half-time
status may not take more than 6 units each quarter.
Ph.D. Research Programs:
- Applied Ocean Sciences: This program in applied science related
to the oceans is interdepartmental with the Graduate Department of
the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) and the Department of
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). It is administered by
SIO. All aspects of mans purposeful and unusual intervention
into the sea are included. The M.S. degree is not offered in this program.
- Applied PhysicsApplied Optics and Photonics: These
programs encompass a broad range of interdisciplinary activities involving
optical science and engineering, optical and optoelectronic materials
and device technology, communications, computer engineering, and photonic
systems engineering. Specific topics of interest include ultrafast
optical processes, nonlinear optics, quantum cryptography and communications,
optical image science, multidimensional optoelectronic I/O devices,
spatial light modulators and photodetectors, artificial dielectrics,
multifunctional diffractive and micro-optics, volume and computer-generated
holography, optoelectronic and micromechanical devices and packaging,
wave modulators and detectors, semiconductor-based optoelectronics,
injection lasers, and photodetectors. Current research projects are
focused on applications such as optical interconnects in high-speed
digital systems, optical multidimensional signal and image processing,
ultrahigh-speed optical networks, 3D optical memories and memory interfaces,
3D imaging and displays, and biophotonic systems. Facilities available
for research in these areas include electron-beam and optical lithography,
material growth, microfabrication, assembly, and packaging facilities,
cw and ferntosecond pulse laser systems, detection systems, optical
and electro-optic components and devices, and electronic and optical
characterization and testing equipment.
- Communication Theory and Systems
Communications theory and systems concerns the transmission, processing,
and storage of information. Topics covered by the group include wireless
and wireline communications, spread-spectrum communication, multi-user
communication, network protocols, error-correcting codes for transmission
and magnetic recording, data compression, time-series analysis, and
image and voice processing.
- Computer Engineering consists of balanced programs of studies
in both hardware and software, the premise being that knowledge and
skill in both areas are essential both for the modern-day computer
engineer to make the proper unbiased tradeoffs in design, and for
researchers to consider all paths towards the solution of research
questions and problems. Toward these ends, the programs emphasize
studies (course work) and competency (comprehensive examinations,
and dissertations or projects) in the areas of VLSI and logic design,
and reliable computer and communication systems. Specific research
areas include: computer systems, signal processing systems, multiprocessing
and parallel and distributed computing, computer communications and
networks, computer architecture, computer-aided design, fault-tolerance
and reliability, and neurocomputing. The faculty is composed of interested
members of the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering
(ECE), Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), and related areas.
The specialization is administered by both departments; the requirements
are similar in both departments, with students taking the comprehensive
exam, if necessary, given by the students respective department.
- Electronic Circuits and Systems: This program involves the
study and design of analog, mixed-signal (combined analog and digital),
and digital electronic circuits and systems. Emphasis is on the development,
analysis, and implementation of integrated circuits that perform analog
and digital signal processing for applications such as wireless and
wireline communication systems, test and measurement systems, and
interfaces between computers and sensors. Particular areas of study
currently include radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers, RF low noise
amplifiers, RF mixers, fractional-N phase-locked loops (PLLs) for
modulated and continuous-wave frequency synthesis, pipelined analog-to-digital
converters (ADCs), delta-sigma ADCs and digital-to-analog converters
(DACs), PLLs for clock recovery, adaptive and fixed continuous-time,
switched-capacitor, and digital filters, echo cancellation circuits,
adaptive equalization circuits, wireless receiver and transmitter
linearization circuits, mixed-signal baseband processing circuits
for wireless transmitters and receivers, high-speed digital circuits,
and high-speed clock distribution circuits.
- Applied PhysicsElectronic Devices and Materials: This
program addresses the synthesis and characterization of advanced electronic
materials, including semiconductors, metals, and dielectrics, and
their application in novel electronic, optoelectronic, and photonic
devices. Emphasis is placed on exploration of techniques for high-quality
epitaxial growth of semiconductors, including both molecular-beam
epitaxy (MBE) and metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD);
fabrication and characterization of materials and devices at the nanoscale;
development of novel materials processing and integration techniques;
and high-performance electronic devices based on both Group IV (Si/SiGe)
and III-V compound semiconductor materials. Areas of current interest
include novel materials and high-speed devices for wireless communications;
electronic and optoelectronic devices for high-speed optical networks;
high-power microwave-frequency devices; nanoscale CMOS devices and
circuits; heterogeneous materials integration; novel device structures
for biological and chemical sensing; advanced tools for nanoscale
characterization and metrology; and novel nanoscale electronic, optoelectronic,
and photonic devices. Extensive facilities are available for research
in this area, including several MBE and MOCVD systems; a complete
microfabrication facility; electron-beam lithography and associated
process tools for nanoscale fabrication; a Rutherford backscattering
system; x-ray diffractometers; electron microscopy facilities; extensive
scanning-probe instrumentation; cryogenic systems; and comprehensive
facilities for DC to RF electrical device characterization and optical
characterization of materials and devices.
- Intelligent Systems, Robotics, and Control: This information
sciences-based field is concerned with the design of human-interactive
intelligent systems that can sense the world (defined as some specified
domain of interest); represent or model the world; detect and identify
states and events in the world; reason about and make decisions about
the world; and/or act on the world, perhaps all in real-time. A sense
of the type of systems and applications encountered in this discipline
can be obtained by viewing the projects shown at the Web site http://swiftlet.ucsd.edu.
The development of such sophisticated systems is necessarily an interdiscipinary
activity. To sense and succinctly represent events in the world requires
knowledge of signal processing, computer vision, information theory,
coding theory, and data-basing; to detect and reason about states
of the world utilizes concepts from statistical detection theory,
hypothesis testing, pattern recognition, time series analysis, and
artificial intelligence; to make good decisions about highly complex
systems requires knowledge of traditional mathematical optimization
theory and contemporary near-optimal approaches such as evolutionary
computation; and to act upon the world requires familiarity with concepts
of control theory and robotics. Very often learning and adaptation
are required as either critical aspects of the world are poorly known
at the outset, and must be refined online, or the world is non-stationary
and our system must constantly adapt to it as it evolves. In addition
to the theoretical information and computer science aspects, many
important hardware and software issues must be addressed in order
to obtain an effective fusion of a complicated suite of sensors, computers,
and problem dynamics into one integrated system.
Faculty affiliated with the ISRC subarea are involved in virtually
all aspects of the field, including applications to intelligent communications
systems; advanced human-computer interfacing; statistical signal-
and image-processing; intelligent tracking and guidance systems; biomedical
system identification and control; and control of teleoperated and
autonomous multiagent robotic systems.
- Magnetic Recording is an interdisciplinary field involving
physics, material science, communications, and mechanical engineering.
The physics of magnetic recording involves studying magnetic heads,
recording media, and the process of transferring information between
the heads and the medium. General areas of investigation include:
nonlinear behavior of magnetic heads, very high frequency loss mechanisms
in head materials, characterization of recording media by micromagnetic
and many body interaction analysis, response of the medium to the
application of spatially varying vectorial head fields, fundamental
analysis of medium nonuniformities leading to media noise, and experimental
studies of the channel transfer function emphasizing non-linearities,
interferences, and noise. Current projects include numerical simulations
of high density digital recording in metallic thin films, micromagnetic
analysis of magnetic reversal in individual magnetic particles, theory
of recorded transition phase noise and magnetization induced nonlinear
bit shift in thin metallic films, and analysis of the thermal-temporal
stability of interacting fine particles.
Research laboratories are housed in the Center for Magnetic Recording
Research, a national center devoted to multidisciplinary teaching
and research in the field.
- Radio and Space Science: The Radio Science Program focuses
on the study of radio waves propagating through turbulent media. The
primary objectives are probing of otherwise inaccessible media such
as the solar wind and interstellar plasma. Techniques for removing
the effects of the turbulent medium to restore the intrinsic signals
are also studied.
The Space Science Program is concerned with the nature of the sun,
its ionized and supersonic outer atmosphere (the solar wind), and
the interaction of the solar wind with various bodies in the solar
system. Theoretical studies include: the interaction of the solar
wind with the earth, planets, and comets; cosmic dusty-plasmas; waves
in the ionosphere; and the physics of shocks. A major theoretical
effort involves the use of supercomputers for modeling and simulation
studies of both fluid and kinetic processes in space plasmas.
Students in radio science will take measurements at various radio
observatories in the U.S. And elsewhere. This work involves a great
deal of digital signal processing and statistical analysis. All students
will need to become familiar with electromagnetic theory, plasma physics,
and numerical analysis.
- The Signal and Image Processing Program explores engineering
issues related to the modeling of signals starting from the physics
of the problem, developing and evaluating algorithms for extracting
the necessary information from the signal, and the implementation
of these algorithms on electronic and opto-electronic systems. Specific
research areas include filter design, fast transforms, adaptive filters,
spectrum estimation and modeling, sensor array processing, image processing,
motion estimation from images, and the implementation of signal processing
algorithms using appropriate technologies with applications in sonar,
radar, speech, geophysics, computer-aided tomography, image restoration,
robotic vision, and pattern recognition.
Research Facilities
Most of the research laboratories of the department are associated
with individual faculty members or small informal groups of faculty.
Larger instruments and facilities, such as those for electron microscopy
and e-beam lithography are operated jointly. In addition the department
operates several research centers and participates in various university
wide organized research units.
The department-operated research centers are the NSF Industrial/University
Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) for Ultra-High Speed Integrated
Circuits and Systems (ICAS); Optoelectronics Technology Center (OTC)
sponsored by the Advanced Project Research Agency; the Center for Wireless
Communications which is a university-industry partnership; the Center
for Information Engineering; and the Institute for Neural Computation.
Department research is associated with the Center for Astronomy and
Space Science, the Center for Magnetic Recording Research, the California
Space Institute, and the Institute for Nonlinear Science. Departmental
researchers also use various national and international laboratories,
such as the National Nanofabrication Facility and the National Radio
Astronomy Laboratory.
The department emphasizes computational capability and maintains numerous
computer laboratories for instruction and research. One of the NSF national
supercomputer centers is located on the campus. This is particularly
useful for those whose work requires high data bandwidths.
Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
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